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Great Barrier Reef Coral Coral forms the backbone of the structure of the Great Barrier Reef, and with over 400 species that comprise the various sections of reef, they play a huge part in making up the visual splendour that has contributed to its worldwide fame. The vibrant colours of the Great Barrier Reef coral can be striking, with vivid reds and cool blues coexisting side by side to form a veritable underwater rainbow which has to be seen up close to be properly appreciated. The Great Barrier Reef, like most other coral reefs on earth, initially grew from a hard surface on the ocean floor and continually evolved over the course of 500,000 years to take the shape of the vibrant ecosystem that can be found in today.

The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef in the world. It consists of more than 2,900 coral reefs,

Coral polyps created the great barrier reef.

the great barrier reef was formed by nature

the great barrier reef was formed by nature

Coral reefs are made of thousands and thousands of minute coral polyps that are held together by coralline algae. Most coral reefs are several million years old and contain richly diverse life forms. The Great Barrier Reef is a coral reef, comprising more than 400 species of coral. It is considered the largest living organism in the world.

Captain James Cook discovered the Great Barrier Reef in 1770. He found it accidentally when his ship ran aground on the reef whilst he was charting the eastern coast of Australia.

His ship, the Endeavour, managed to stay afloat for another week whilst the crew sought desperately for land, eventually sighting the harbour formed by the Endeavour River. The ship was landed on 10 June 1770, and Cook spent almost two months repairing it, thus giving rise to the fledgling township of Cooktown.

Above: Staghorns, Plate and Brain Coral

Coral spawning or reproduction is a nocturnal phenomenon that happens annually in late spring or early summer. Colloquially know as "sex on the reef", egg-engorged corals simultaneously release masses of pretty pink eggs and sperm into the sea to become free-floating larvae. While its timing is thought to be related to the water temperature and phases of the moon, it is impossible to predict exactly when it will occur.

Coral's most voracious natural predator is the Crown of Thorns Starfish. Outbreaks of these starfish have been known to strip reefs of nearly all living coral. Fortunately new corals generally re-establish after an outbreak.

Dwarf minke whales visit the Reef every year in June and July.

Corals and sea anemones are related to jellyfish. They live fixed to the seabed instead of swimming free.